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Igwe, J. E.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
Igboayaka, E. C.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
Okoro, U. I.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
Mba, B. C.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
Okoro, C.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The experimental test of a fabricated small-scale
waste plastics pyrolysis plant for recovering pyrolysis oil from thermoplastics
has been completed. The thermoplastic materials (P.P. P.E. and P.S) were
considered because they can easily be softened and melted if enough heat is
applied and solidified on cooling to be made into new products. The ratio of
waste plastics to catalyst during a pilot test in the plant was 2:1. The
reactor converts the waste plastics to vapour, which flows through the
catalytic cracker chamber, diffuser, and condenser, and the pyrolysis oil
finally flows to the collector unit after an hour. The reaction temperature,
pressure, and production time for cracking 2 kg of waste plastics for maximum
yield were 360 oC, 2.5 bars, and 54 minutes, respectively. The
maximum product yield, gas yield and residue yield were 87.3 %, 0.55 % and
12.15 %, respectively. In addition, the reactor feed capacity was 2 kg/h and
can produce liquid oil of 1 lit/h. It was investigated that when the reaction temperature
increased, the time for the completion of the oil product decreased.
Furthermore, as reaction temperature increases, the product yield increases
proportionately and maintains a downward trend at elevated temperatures
(380-500 oC). The effect of the catalyst maintained similar results;
as the catalyst increases, the product yield increases and diminishes as the
catalyst increases.
Keywords: pilot pyrolysis plant, waste plastics, inlet temperature, production time, product yield, gas yield, residual yield and pyrolysis oil.
https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_v10i2_12
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Published
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Issue
Vol. 10 No. 2, December 2024
Article Section
GENERAL
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.
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